Hong Kong

Suggested Itineraries

48 Hours: Day 1

Wong Tai Sin Temple

Start off the day with an MTR ride to the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. This is the largest shrine in Hong Kong dedicated to a single deity and it has a whole MTR station named after it. Originally a private shrine in a Chinese medicine practitioner's shop. The story has it that after the shop burned down in 1921, the owner was visited by the deity to construct a temple in Kowloon. Famous for granting wishes for those who ask, the Wong Tai Sin temple is full of worshippers all year round.

Shopping the Streets of Mong Kok

There is a smell in the air when entering the heart of Mong Kok that could be mistaken for sewage. In fact the less than pleasant smell is a local delicacy called 'stinky tofu'. The adventurous could try the fermented tofu at Chun Mei Mei on Nelson Street, test your boundaries to see if you have the stomach for this esoteric snack.

Shopping the Streets of Mong Kok

Next, go past the Ladies' Market, walk down towards Argyle Street and on to Fa Yuen Street where 'Sneaker Street' begins. Not only are the sneakers competitively priced, there are many collectable stores that stock rare limited edition shoes for enthusiasts. If shoes aren't what you're after, you can walk down towards Tung Choi Street where locals buy goldfish and all kinds of aquarium paraphernalia. It's also a great photo op when you see all the individual goldfishes hanging together in plastic bags ready for sale.

Night Life in Jordan

Temple Street in Jordan is a famous night market that's lost a bit of its charm in recent years, but that doesn't mean it's not worth visiting. Amongst the tacky souvenir stalls, there's ethnic merchants who sell jewellery and trinkets. Drive a hard bargain and be prepared to walk away when the stall owners won't budge. Another fun thing to see are the fortune tellers at the end of the street, stalls have expanded to include a tarot reader now, but the old school guys using trained birds to pick out your fortune are still there.

Night Life in Tsim Sha Tsui

Alternatively, TST is the area to unwind on Kowloon side, there is a lively bar scene on Knutsford Terrace, or you can pop up to Aqua on One Peking Road to have one of their famous variations of martinis and enjoy the view from Kowloon looking back onto Hong Kong Island.

48 Hours: Day 2

Causeway Bay

This is the hip place to shop for local designers and home-grown Asian brands. Yiu Wa Street behind Times Square and Pak Sha Road facing Hysan Place is the hub where a lot of these stores are in walk-up buildings. You will find stores like Walk on Water and Off the Wall for Hong Kong and Asian designer clothing and Homeless for clever home furnishing designs. On Fashion Walk a little further from Sogo is Liger and Magenta where they also stock a lot of Hong Kong designers. Of course, for simplicity all under one roof, there's also a lot of large shopping malls to spend your day in Causeway Bay.

Dinner and Drinks

You must be tired after hard day of retail therapy. Treat yourself to an authentic Cantonese dinner at Tung Po. Situated on the second floor of the Java Road Market, it's the prime location to get the freshest ingredients for your meal. There's no reservations for this place so get there early to avoid long lines. Sink your teeth into some of their famous garlic chicken, drunken chicken and grilled eel. Knock back a few beers to the jovial music playing at this rowdy joint.

Dinner and Drinks

If the merriment at Tung Po is not enough, you can head to Lockhart Road, back in Wan Chai where historically and even now, sailors come to play whenever a fleet docks in town. Navigate your way through neon signs where you can find an abundance of Irish pubs, all-night tattoo parlours and more.